A Narrow Road of Caring

 A narrow road is a road that could be easy to wander off of. Have you ever tried to walk down a long narrow hallway with your eyes shut. The way our eyes adjust our path constantly is a really important piece of how we get from point A to point B. Whenever we start to wander in the slightest we can see the variance almost subconsciously and adjustments are made. 

In Matthew 7:13 Jesus is speaking and this whole thing is during the sermon on the mount and he says. Enter through the narrow gate, for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 

This statement follows right on the golden rule about treating others as you would have them treat you. This golden run has a pre-clause and  post-clause. The pre-clause is a therefore and I'll talk about that in a second. I'll do it third but in a second. The second clause which is a post-clause is a statement that says that this is the Law and the prophets. In other word, this is what God was teaching us to do. It does not break the law and does not go contrary to God's purposes. That would be enough. 

The pre-clause is a therefore and tells us why we do that. Why does it make perfect sense to treat others the way we want to be treated? It is because we can see that God will give us what is good when we ask Him. This we can see because we, being evil, know how to give good gifts to our own children. 

The road then, which makes perfect sense and fulfills the law and the profits (thanks to Jesus) is to treat others as we would have them treat us AND with that to be VERY intentional and to put in significant effort to get it done. Because you belong to God, your situation is in His hand and because that is so you can walk a narrow road. There is an alternative that is proposed by many who do not trust God and frankly, if I did not trust God I would need to take matters in my own hands (which I would likely screw up quite often). You can work very diligently to treat others as you would like to be treated. You can be loving and kind. Even you can work very hard at it because you are safe. Safe in God's care is a good place to be. #reachingnewheightsinjesus

Excel at life

ON fire Living your life without absolute on-fire commitment is like reading a book to yourself without saying the words out loud. There's something missing. Oh, I know, it's the way people usually do it. It's quiet and they read. They like the quiet, even grow used to it. But the characters grow pail and the sound of someone’s emotions leaves the story. The words flow by. Especially the ones that you don't know all that well and mistakes become tolerable. In a way, I think it's because the desired outcome has changed. Were reading to see what it says and to determine where the story goes rather for the experience of the journey. Public speakers are warned to try speaking the written speech out loud and or practicing before they actually do it in front of people because when you simply read it in your head you overlook the mistakes and don't really improve your potential delivery. Read out loud That's what life without being on-fire for Christ is like. It just sort of slides by... It is somehow less vivid, even less real and some become very comfortable with that lack of depth-I remember an old song with the lyric-Drown me in the shallow water before I get too deep..." Self examination Ask yourself- Is that me? Have I begun to grow comfortable with a shallow life? That's not what God wants for you. He came so that you might have life and have it more abundantly. I'm telling you that God knows that we have a tendency to accept something less than the powerful life that He intends for us. People have been doing it since the garden... I will excel Don't. Say to God today, I will excel for you. I know that through Christ I could settle for something less than the life you intend for me just the same as I could shoot for excellence but I will not settle for less. I will apply the gifts you have made me steward of and I will follow you wherever you lead. Excel prayer for you May your story be out loud and in your face. May you experience life to the fullest. With powerful sorrow and even more powerful joy. God has made you more incredible than you will ever know but He knows and He has a plan...

Taking a Hit

So, Here is what I've figured out-That the anticipation of taking a hit is often worse than taking a hit. This assumes of course that the hit comes and goes or that the hitting does not continue.

Many have been through grueling physical torment that goes on and on. that's not for me to speak of except in general terms because I have never endured such.

However, when it comes to spiritual matters we are all subject to hits now and then. The enemy is tactically clever and we even expose our weaker defenses at times perhaps because we care about someone a little more than we thought or the like.

Then, it occurs to you that you might be about to take a hit and the person is not really talking about the problem...

Anticipation begins to eat at your soul. You just know this is gonna be bad. Relationship hits might be best handled like getting a shot-take a deep breath, don't hold it, and relax. When you're about to get in a car accident people do best when they assume the position in a relaxed manner.

So, what I am saying is that tensing up or fretting over a coming spiritual hit is bound to make it worse. Better, would be to leave it in God's hands and say-It's gonna be whatever it's gonna be. relax, He's got this. He told you what He can do. Just look at the hits Jesus took and He didn't want to. He prayed against the cup of wrath but He needed to in order that you and I might be set free, justified...

So, when it looks like someone is going to betray you don't overreact. Stand your ground and take the spiritual licking that you've got coming. In fact, rejoice always, again I say rejoice. Rejoice that you were determined worthy to struggle as Christ did even if only in this minor way.

In that rejoicing, maybe you will find that the worst part of the hit is defused and that you can be "happy" on a bumpy road just as much as you can be on a smooth road as long as you know that God is in the driver's seat.

Pastor Dan Stevenson
www. newheightsfellowshipchurch.org

Taking a day off in the ministry

So, I've been trying to take Thursdays off for about four months now. I try every week to schedule everything I can on the other days of the week and to organize my day off to allow me to get things done. It doesn't seem to work yet.

Taking a day off in the ministry...
A week ago-I actually had several people form my ministry call me and leave me messages that began with-I know it's your day off or maybe it's your day off- But. Ordinarily, you'd think a person might shake their head but I sort of get it. God doesn't take a day off anymore and different persons in the ministry get their day off whenever their employer says not whenever they want. They need to know what they need to know to make their day off from their secular employment as productive for God as it can be. I get it. I was actually grateful for the humble spirit with which they approached me on my day off. Some others have not done so.

Taking a day off in the ministry...
So, take a day off. Even, I say avoid the phone if necessary but going with Phil 2 we all should be concerned for ourselves and our walk with Christ as well as for others and theirs. So, when your day off is interrupted by say, a subpoena or some work that you've been putting off and it just can't wait now-Don't get upset. Like many other things in this life these things too can work for God's glory. What's more, He can use them to bless you if you love Him and are called according to His purpose.

Taking a day off in the ministry...
So, make sure you viciously attack hurry in your schedule, utilize whatever systems you need to to get the time adjusted so you can actually take the time off, and then just do it. In the process, never forget that God does not have to work on your schedule.

Oh, and Thank God, Because I'd sure hate to see what the world would look like if God took a day off.

Pastor Dan Stevenson
http://www.newheightsfellowshipchurch.org/

fatigue

Your eyes are tired and dry. Your neck is stiff or your back is sore. You have had enough but life goes on. You fall asleep when someone is talking to you. Your eyes drift shut but a second later you are wide awake and you feel fine. It's fatigue.

Maybe you've pushed yourself too far. Maybe you've burnt your candle at both ends. A few late nights, a few too many early mornings and your fatigued. But that's not the only way.

Fatigue

TV fatigues the mind as the screen continually refreshes to mimic the actual movement of real life. (Watching TV is not rest.) Emotional moments fatigue a person psychologically. The brain creates chemicals and chemical byproducts of emotions build up so that only rest will free the brain for proper balance.

Fatigue

Water is used in virtually every process of the body and tons of people (I think maybe almost all ordinary people) are struggling under the effects of dehydration. I even think that sometime when people's body are calling out for water they eat (resulting in all sorts of other problems.) Hydration makes health and strength possible. Drink more water (nope-more than that.)

Fatigue

Good health is the antithesis of Fatigue. Sure, we will still get tired but not so much fatigued. Exercise, hydration, proper nutrition, periods of peace, and Sabbath are the solution. I say that knowing that I sometimes fail in these areas. In fact I am fatigued this morning after a long weekend and missing my Sabbath yesterday due to an emergency.

Peace. No God? No Peace. I'm not stirring up trouble. Realizing that living without the one you were created to relate to is fatiguing is absolutely necessary. Dodging that reality has become a pass time for some. They work very hard at it even finding substitutes for as long as they hold out. Sounds Fatiguing doesn't it?

Sabbath: Sabbath is the time set apart to reflect on God, yourself, and especially your relationship to God. Leave God out, scripture out, or reflection out and you are not having Sabbath. Rest is good but Sabbath is the God given answer to fatigue.

So, you tell me? Should the TV be on during Sabbath? Should read a good book? Should you sleep it away? I think, no. I think you can incorporate these things in small amounts but the Bible, you, and quiet are the principle ingredients. One more thing ,the ratio is 1/7th. The Bible teaches that you need to take the equivalent of one entire day every week. This is not complete rest. It is as described above...

Lord help us. We have become a nation that has forgotten this most important principle.

and the result?

Fatigue.

Pastor Dan Stevenson
http://www.newheightsfellowshipchurch.org/

Two Hour delays

Two hour delays have become all the rage in our school district for teacher in-service. For me, it throws my whole day out of whack. I wonder if that's true for every parent around. Some probably have to restructure their entire day. I suppose that used to the be the case for whole days off too. Maybe it's better. IDK

Here's a thought-we don't like delays in general. I hate waiting. I know God wants me to wait on Him. I'm just glad that His version of waiting isn't sitting around doing nothing. I get to be busy in the war effort while I wait for Him to reveal Himself completely.

Listen to me....As if God were playing some cosmic game of hide and seek! Nope. He's right here, waiting on us to take notice of His plans and join Him in them. I remember when I was a kid-the guy who wanted to be it would dance around the guy who was it trying to get him to tag him. That wasn't funny.

Then, when he was tagged he would run off after whoever it was that he was trying to punish. In some cases however, the guy who was it didn't want to tag whoever really wanted to be tagged. It made the scene comical as the guy who wanted to be it followed around the guy who was it waiting for him to get tired and finally give in and tag him. Now that's a picture of God and his persistence with people who really don't want to recognize His availability. He's right there waiting for them to get tired of doing it all by themselves and they are refusing to let Him in. Silly.

Your it right now (at least you are trying in some sense to convince yourself that you're it.) God wants to be It. Stop trying to lead your effort and let God do it. Say, Okay God, Tag your It. Let Him lead your effort. Let Him lead everything. He paid the price for it. He's dancing around trying to get your attention. Tag Him. Go ahead. I dare ya...

Pastor Dan Stevenson
http://www.newheightsfellowshipchurch.org/

Time keeps on Slipping away

It's late. In fact, it's tomorrow. Tomorrow will be lost in recovery. Today, got out of hand. I have a wonderful family and we always block out time to be together and it's important. However, try as I might I did not get my papers written the way I would have liked...

Isn't it interesting how when you look back you can't believe how fast the time has gone but when you consider what you are trying to cram into a day you think about how little time there is. We get time perceptions all screwed up that's for sure.

Anyway, so here I am too tired to find my way to my tooth brush and pillow in that order and I'm writing this to whoever you are...

Let God do something amazing in your life. He wants to redeem your days. Then at the end of a long day, whether it's filled with shouting or hugging you will be able to say this day was valuabel for the Lord.

I will cram more into each day than is humanly possible. I believe that there is more to life than meets the eye-even the trained eye-even the faith-powered eye. God alone can see certain things!

So, write papers and do your job and love your kids and hug your wife and wash teh dishes on borrowed time cause there simply is no other way. Let God redeem the day. Don't waste these precious moments which He paid such a high price for...

The bus comes early. Where's my tooth brush. If I don't get some consistent rest I won't need bags for my next vacation cause I'll store my cothes in the bags under my eyes...

Not funny? Well, maybe tomorrow then...

Pastor Dan Stevenson
www.newheightsfellowshipchurch.org

Atheism, Agnosticism and other simple notions

Atheism
The Atheist position is completely untenable. That means that it makes no sense and has no real arguments founded in logic. The main argument is that we know that there is no God. That argument only works if a person or people can claim to know everything in every place at every time. Nope, no one can do that except say, God.


Agnosticism
Thus the argument for agnosticism makes a little sense. It says that we can not know that there is a God. That means then that a person knows what can be known in this time, this place. That might actually work for some. However, it occurs to me that a being that knows everything there is to know (in order to know what can not be known) on a given topic is still claiming a rather extravagant extent to their knowledge. Unless of course this limited knowledge position is actually arguing that we can not know because our knowledge is limited which leads us to to beg the question. If you can not know then how is that you have concluded that you can not know.

God
In my opinion it makes logical sense that: 1-There must be an intelligent designer who we call God. 2-There must be a logically morally superior being 3-Those who claim that they have experienced God are more likely to be correct about what they have experienced than those that claim that one can not experience God (A person is more likely to believe that something (or someone can be experienced when they have experienced it/Him themselves and of course less likely to believe when they have not experienced it/Him.)

Narnia (TM)

By the way, it occurs to me that the popular Narnia(TM) series (based on Children's books by C.S. Lewis show an interesting alternative reality that is more likely than Atheists and Agnostic argue. These persons which are obviously quite intelligent in my opinion arguing for adult ideas to be swayed by logic that is not as sound as that found in Children's books.

I have heard the C.S. Lewis in his lifetime swore that the books were not based in great theological meaning. Anyway, neither is this blog...

Where was I? Oh yes, It appears to me that Atheists and Agnostics are not arguing so much against God as for a reality without the Christian God (or any God recognized by many.) In fact, they are arguing for themselves to be the God of choice. I am willing to accept that whatever being would be most extremely right in the universe and in the life of the person in question would be their god.

In other words, if an atheist succeeds in arguing against the possibility of knowing the real God then they have successfully argued for their own supremacy. Get it? If I win the argument against God then I get to be God or at least reduce Him to be like me. So, there you have it then. Same old game. "non-believer' believe in themselves or system or money or whatever. So, they seek to make that God.

In a nut shell, my position is that someone or something must be on top. failing to recognize that God has this rightful place or that Satan has claimed His place under many guises leads one to argue against God.

Not the God I might have created...

Even if the God of the Atheist and agnostic is on the surface, reason (This is what they often argue) then they have a God of sorts and will be servant to It. Let's just say I have met someone I would much rather serve than any construct empowered by man. I serve God. It isn't always fun. He isn't always exactly what I want Him to be. However, He is God and so where we clash I realize I must adjust.

The only thing in the universe that doesn't belong to God and therefore can actually be sacrificed to Him is a person's free will. For those who have not done so, no amount of testimony by those who have will explain the experience. But, He still seeking worshippers in Spirit and Truth and He is patient that all men might come to repentance.

Pastor Dan
www.newheightsfellowshipchurch.org

Lasting impressions

Some things really stick in your mind. pictures of things that you wish you'd never seen, Pain from lost loved ones, betrayals from loved ones who you thought you could trust. I could go on but I think you get the point.

What are the good things in life? They are the things that last. It occurs to me that people last, money doesn't. Even memories last longer than thrills.

Being a good citizen has its merit. Tonight I got pulled over on the way to take my broken down project car to the shop to see if it's fixable. The plates were expired cause the mechanic allegedly killed his girlfriend or something and I couldn't get the car back-didn't now if I ever would. Anyway, the plates were expired but I didn't get a ticket cause by and large I'm the good guy-I guess. Also, at the dinner, I ate near to last and my food was not only still hot, it tasted Soo good.

How do you want to be remembered? I get now that I am crazy by the world's standards and I hope it always remains that way. We have dreams and we are not sure if we are getting any closer to them or not but at the same time we continue to give at the absolute limit of our means to people who maybe need IT more than we do. That'll probably never come back in this life time. I don't care.

God is eternal and nothing I do in my own strength will make that grade. Philippians 3-I guess we'll keep pressing on toward the mark. Man, do I know I'm not there. I can't imagine what that would be like.

Sledge hammer on a nail-We think God's gonna fix our problems.
Deed-We think ownership makes us something special...
Works-We tell everyone learn from their mistakes thinking that what works will continue to serve our purposes again and again but it isn't so.
Ends- We think the ends justify the means and anything that can bring an actual end has some form of merit and/or utilitarian power at least...

The truth is that real power starts when all other power ends. When death equals life the "Deep Magic" has shown itself and even the laws of life and death have been rewritten. Now, that's power.

Somethings in life make a lasting impression-They really stick in your mind, Ya know?
Death.
Rebirth.
Yeah, that'll do it.

Go ye therefore and live anew. You can. IN Him, you can.

Pastor Daniel Stevenson
www. newheightsfellowshipchurch.org

Power is His

Purpose, Plan, Promise, and Power.

These four things are so strongly interrelated in God that there is little telling them apart. God's purpose and His plan always align perfectly and this only breaks down where man's free will is concerned. God's promises remain sound and will be ultimately fulfilled regardless of what we see before us today.

So many promises of God have already been fulfilled that there is little room left for doubt. But some still doubt and that has to do with God preserving mans free will.

The real power is when the doubt is out! When there is no doubt then God is free to act out his perfect will in us. This is called being reborn. I know, I know, I sound like I am saying that if a person would stop doubting that they could do and be anything.

First of all, that's not true. they could do and be anything that God saw fit to make them be and do-That of course is true! Secondly, doubt is a real stumbling block and necessary to some extent; it preserves free will. Even when we think we believe without doubting, sometimes we doubt whether the outcome we desire is the outcome that God desires.

It is hard, if not impossible for us to know the PERFECT will of God because His way are so far above our ways. POWER -like being powerful- belongs to God. Even when God sees fit to exhibit His power is us we must realize that it is not us who owns the power.

This brings us to humility as a way of life. Indeed, dying to self and striving to be Christ-like as a way of life. Jesus would say, " Aha, now you are beginning to get the idea..."

See ya Sunday

Pastor Daniel R. Stevenson
www.newheightsfellowshipchurch.org